Extracurricular activities can be an important part of a successful college application. As I mentioned in the What You Need to Know About Standardized Tests Now post, Colleges are taking a more holistic approach to admissions. Academic transcripts, essays, recommendations and activities are looked at (with or without test scores) to create a bigger picture of whether or not a student is a great fit for a particular college.
Participating in activities outside of the classroom can demonstrate a student’s commitment to a certain field of study, demonstrate leadership skills, and provide evidence of their ability to work with others. It’s a great way for students to develop their interests, make connections with like-minded students and have an impact on their community
Engaging in extracurricular activities can also help students gain valuable skills that will come in handy later in life, such as time management, problem-solving and communication. Colleges want to see that students have taken initiative outside of the classroom, and extracurricular activities can provide evidence of that.
Additionally, extracurricular activities can help students develop interests and passions so that they can be sure that they are applying to the right college and are pursuing fitting majors. Besides, having fun makes the high school experience more enjoyable.
There is such a wide range of extracurriculars that are available that it can be difficult to decide what to do. Activities don’t all need to be school-related either. There is a maximum of 10 activities that can be included in the activities section of the Common App. Clubs, community engagement, church activities, the arts, hobbies, sports, work, volunteering and extra family responsibilities are some examples of what can be included.
Since there are many benefits of having meaningful extracurricular activities when applying to college, I have included an example high school timeline below:
Extracurricular Activities Timeline
- FRESHMAN: This year is a great time for students to get acquainted with the extracurricular opportunities that are available to them.
- SOPHOMORE: Students should start looking for an activity that they can be passionate about and start (or continue) participating in it.
- JUNIOR: It is an important year for extracurricular activities. Think about the ones that students want to include in their college applications. Consider how to play a leading, impactful role in one or two of their top picks. Summer jobs, internships and volunteer positions also count.
- SENIORS: Students still need to remain involved in extracurricular activities.
If students aren’t exactly sure where to start, they can skim through PrepScholar’s Complete List of Extracurricular Activities: 100s of Examples. Extracurricular activities are definitely a great way for students to give their college applications a boost and demonstrate their commitment to learning and growth.
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